HIRING EVENT TO BE HELD AT FORT SILL FOR TRANSITIONING MILITARY

More than 50 state companies and several national companies will attend a hiring event for military members and veterans in Oklahoma in June.

The Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education, the Oklahoma Department of Commerce and the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission will host the hiring event for U.S. military veterans, transitioning service members, Guard and Reserve members from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday, June 6 at the Fort Sill Armed Forces Reserve Center.

“Most soldiers separating from the military are eager to move into the civilian sector and get to work. We are bringing those employers right to Fort Sill to give the soldiers the opportunity to visit and interview with these companies that are specifically seeking to hire veterans,” said retired U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Lee Baxter. “Oklahoma is a veteran-friendly state, and this event is perfect for those soldiers who are ready to start a civilian career right here in Oklahoma. The jobs are open and waiting.”

Registration, available at www.okmilitaryconnection.com, is required to ensure job seekers can be matched with career fields from the various employers. The goal is to make sure those who attend are pre-matched to the companies that are compatible with their skills. Upon arrival at the event, individuals who register will receive the list of companies that are hiring in their selected fields.

“We find this to be very successful in preparing for the event. It leads to a direct connect between the employer and potential employees. The hiring rate is higher when there is a pre-match situation,” said Amy Ewing-Holmstrom, CT4Vets coordinator. “When we held a similar event in Norman using this same formula, we had job offers and soldiers hired that day, and that is what we want.”

Employers are encouraged to register as soon as possible so their jobs can be matched to soldiers who select specific career fields. The career fields vary from risk management, sales and information technology to food and beverage.

A pre-event workshop on Tuesday, June 4 will help attendees who registered prepare for interviews and receive resume pointers. The workshop will be from 6-8 p.m. in Room 301 at Great Plains Technology Center, Lawton.